Muscat: The University Medical City, represented by the National Centre for the Treatment of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, has successfully performed the first Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in the Sultanate of Oman, using national medical people and international collaboration.
This accomplishment represents a watershed moment in medicine, placing Oman among the regional pioneers in delivering innovative and precise treatments to blood cancer patients.
CART cell therapy is a novel kind of immunotherapy in which T cells are taken from the patient, genetically altered, and then reinfused to specifically target cancer cells.
The treatment has demonstrated promising response rates in individuals with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BALL) and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), especially those who are resistant to standard treatments.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Al Nabhani, Assistant Professor at Sultan Qaboos University's College of Medicine and Health Sciences and Consultant Hematologist specializing in lymphoma and cell therapy at the University Medical City, said that this achievement demonstrates the quick development of Oman's healthcare sector in biomedical innovation.
He highlighted that this highefficacy therapy, which was previously only accessible in a few international institutions, is now providing optimism to patients and their families at Oman's University Medical City.
Dr. Murtadha Khamis Al Khabouri, Senior Consultant in Hematology and Head of the Hematology Department at Sultan Qaboos University's College of Medicine and Health Sciences, explained that the treatment's adoption was the result of cooperation between the lymphoma and myeloid oncology team, bone marrow transplantation, and cellular therapy at the National Centre for Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, the Ministry of Health's Overseas Treatment Department, and academic partners from the Fortis Memorial Research Institute.
The goal is to domesticize cutting-edge medical technology, create a national center for advanced treatments, and transform research into clinical applications.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sultan Salim Al Harthi, Director of the Overseas Treatment Department at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that this treatment is one of the key programs aimed at domesticating specialist care, easing patient burdens, and providing top-tier medical services in Oman.
By offering CAR-T treatment at University Medical City, Oman advances toward medical self-sufficiency and cost reduction in comparison to foreign referrals, backed by considerable investments in national workforce training and global alliances to ensure adherence with international standards.
